PITTSBURGH — For the second time this season, Mitch Keller took the mound for what could be his final home outing at PNC Park. This time, he couldn’t deliver the same quality start he spun in July.

Keller allowed four runs in five innings, as the Pirates lost, 4-3, to the Athletics on Friday night at PNC Park. The Pirates, who left 11 runners on base, have now lost five in a row and 12 of their last 13 games.

The Athletics managed just four hits, all against Keller. They left just two runners on base and went 1 for 1 with runners in scoring position.

The Pirates jumped on Athletics starter Luis Severino early, scoring three runs in the first inning before Severino settled in. Spencer Horwitz had an RBI double two batters into the game, Bryan Reynolds singled him home and Nick Gonzales scored Reynolds with a sacrifice fly.

But after allowing runners to reach second and third in the second inning, Severino settled in. He got Horwitz to fly out and Reynolds to ground out, stranding both runners. After, Severino went on to complete five innings, with the only runs coming in the first.

As for Keller, he cruised through the first three innings, retiring the first 11 Athletics to come to the plate. The first hit he allowed was a towering solo homer to first baseman Nick Kurtz, the presumptive American League Rookie of the Year.

Keller ran into more trouble in the fifth. With a runner on and two outs, Keller issued a four-pitch walk to No. 9 hitter Zack Gelof. Leadoff man Lawrence Butler made Keller pay for it, blasting a three-run homer that proved the difference.

It was over when ...

... rookie Rafael Flores led off the ninth inning with a double to center field off Athletics reliever Michael Kelly. The Pirates had runners on first and third after Reynolds’ groundout and Andrew McCutchen’s walk, but Tommy Pham grounded into a game-ending double play.

On the mound

Keller’s day was cut short after 74 pitches with two lefties due up in the sixth, including Kurtz. Four Pirates relievers kept it a one-run ballgame.

At the plate

The Pirates had nine hits and drew three walks but couldn’t come up with a big hit after the first. They finished 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position.

Most valuable player

Butler finished 1 for 3 yet had the most important hit of the day.

Up next

The Pirates and A’s continue their three-game series at 6:40 p.m. Saturday. Luis Morales (4-1, 3.08 ERA) will start for the Athletics, while the Pirates have not yet named a starter.

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